Liquid fuel burner



July 16, 1946.

B. WALKER LIQUID FUEL BURNER Filed Jan. 16, 1942 2 Sheets-Shet 1 1N VB?July 16, 1946. 5 WALKER 2,404,015

LIQUID FUEL BURNER Filed Jan. 16, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Patented July 16, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

LIQUID FUEL BURNER Brooks Walker, Piedmont, Calif.

Application January 16, 1942, Serial No. 426,993

6 Claims. (01. 158-81) This invention pertains to small, collapsiblecamp stoves for use by campers, cross-country skiers, mobile troops, andothers requiring heat for cooking, as well as possibly heating a smalltent. Heretofore such stoves, as used by explorers, have been made inforeign countries and have a large number of loose parts which must bepacked in a separate can or container, involving the possibility oflosing some of the parts, thus rendering the stove useless. A furtherobject of this invention is to provide a stoveof minimum size that canbe folded into a small space with the legs forming a ubstantialprotection to the various parts when in the folded position. A furtherobject of this invention is to provide means whereby a single valve fedby a wick from the fuel tank, passing through the air body above thefuel, will admit a combination of fuel and air during the starting operation prior to heating the generator to a point where the fuel isvaporized, as this is necessary in temperatures around thirty below zerowhere gasoline will not readily light in an open pan such as a primingcup, and alcohol is normally required with the complication of having topro vide two kinds of fuel. A further object of this invention is toprovide a starting tube whereby an auxiliary tube when placed in thestarting position intercepts the fuel-air spray and blows it directly onthe generator where, during the starting operation, a hot flame impingesdirect 1y on the generator, heating the generator to operatingtemperature in twenty seconds to a minute, depending upon conditions,thus speeding the operation materially over starting without:

such a tube and waiting for heat to be transmitted through the burnercup to the generator. Another object of the invention is to provide aconstruction whereby a vertical jet over a fuel tank can be controlledby a vertical valve with,

a cleaning wire going through the jet. Another object of the inventionis to provide a construction whereby a short cylindrical tank can beused with a burner intake coming out of the side of the tank, fed with awick, so that the stove may be turned with the burner up for startingwhere the wick will pass through the air above the fuel during thestarting operation, and when laid down on its side inthe runningposition, the

wick will be completely submerged mostof the,

time, thus conserving air pressure. A further object is to provide astove in which maximum fuel capacity is available, while still allowingthe stove to be nested within an ordinary mess cooking pot such astroops carry, usually six.

to seven inches in diameter and four to five inches high.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure 1 is aside elevation, partly cutaway, showing one form of theinvention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation, sectional view through an alternate typeof valve construction which might be used in connection with Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top, plan elevation of the stove illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of an alternate type of stove construction.

Figure 5 is a perspective view, partly cutaway, of the stove, embodyinganother form of the invention.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the stove shown in Figure 5, collapsed intoits carrying position and nested within a cooking pot.

Figure 7 is a plan view of still another type of stove embodying theinvention.

Figure 8 is a side elevation view, partly cut away, of the stove asshown in Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a transverse sectional view of the modification shown inFigure 5, with the stove in starting position.

In all figures, like numerals of reference refer to corresponding partsin the various figures.

In Figures 1, 2, and 3 I have shown a fuel tank l0 carrying a supply offuel H and provided with a filter cap 12 preferably of the conventionaltype such as Coleman uses on their gas lamp with an air vent which canrelieve the pressure without danger of blowing up the tank. A pump I3 isprovided with a pump handle I30. of the conventional type with an outletl3b preferably above the fuel level so that any leakage through the pumpwill not leak fuel into the pump. This pump is of the conventional typewith a cup leather plunger, check valve, and preferably a screw-threadedshut-off valve in addition, similar to that used in the Coleman typgasoline lamps. A bushing i9 is secured by brazing, silver soldering,swedging, or other suitable means to the tank and the valve 20 isthreaded into the bushing l9. Within the upper end of the valve 20 isthreaded the burner jet element 29 and is adapted to receive valve 20.The valve 20 is supplied with fuel through wick 2| held in place bywire-22 which also helps insert the wick when the valve is inserted intoplace.

Between the wick 2| and the control valve 23 is preferably inserted arolled metal screen 24 which prevents parts of the wick from gettinginto the valve seat and preventing tight closing.

A let cleaner wire 25 is suitably held in a holder 26 adjustably securedto cleaner block 28 by being swedged into same or by screw threads andlocknut 21. A cleaner cam actuator 30 of the type used on Coleman gaslamps is provided with a conventional type of stufiing box. Controlvalve 23 is operated by valve handle 23a and it has a conventionalstuffing box secured by nut 23b.

A burner cup 35. of the Primus type is provided with spider36 on whichthe fuel spray impinges for a suitable spreading and burning in theburner cup 35. The burner cup is secured to .a sleeve 31 which issecured by threads to the outside of the valve housing 2|].

curing bracket 38 for supporting a starting tube 39 which is pivoted tothe bracket at M]. This starting tube can assume the dotted lineposition shown in Figure 1 for starting, when the fuel will be deflectedthrough the tube and burn against the threaded portion of the valvehousing around the cleaner wire control to heat it to a temperature atwhich the gasoline will be vaporized, at which time the operator canflipthe' tube 39 into the positon shown in full lines in Figure 1 Whereits top edge will strike the edge of the hole through the burner cup tokeep it from coming clear out.

The three legs 50 are suitably secured to the fuel tank by bearingswhich allow the. legs to?" On the lower edge of the legs Sil'are.

swivel. circles 59a covered by thin metal'fitlb to give footing in mudor snow and to make the stovestable when supporting a heavy load ofmaterial being cooked. The upper ends of the legs 50 are looped' The andsupport two tie-wires 52 on each leg. ends of the tie-wires are loopedthrough the loopsin the legs 59-30 that they cannot be lost. The otherends of the tiewi're hook into holes throughthe lip of the burner cup 35and'maker the structure relatively rigid, particularly if the burner cupis screwed fairly tightly on the upper end of the valve housing 28. Whenit is desired to carry the stove; the tie-wires 52 are all disconnectedfrom the burner cup 35 and folded;

down next to the legs 50. The leg Snare-then swung around so that thefeet 50a and 50b nest under the center of the fuel tank,'each touchingthe other about the center. This-leavesthe upper end of the legs 59nested against the burnerv cup to protect. same and allows the packingof the stove in a minimum of space.

In Figure 2 I have shown an alternate form of valve construction inwhich a valve housing 6!) is provided with a screw-threaded valve stem6|,

suitably packed by conventional packing gland t2, and operated by anon-heat-transmitting handle 61a. The cleaning wire 66 in this instanceis secured in a holder 65, the lower end position, the cleaning wire isforced into its cleaning position, passing through the fuel orifice.

Where it is desirable to use a, heat-resistant, non-corrosive type ofmetal such as stainless steel or Nicrome for the generator 12; it may besuitably secured to the valve housing 60 by a'gland-v On the lower endof sleeve 31 is provided a shoulder and nut for se-.

4 nut 13 and is preferably provided with threads on the outside for themountin of the burner cup which may be screwed down to a positionagainst the gland nut 13 for packin in a minimum of space, and screwedup against auxiliary jam nut 15 when ready to operate as a stove.

In Figure 4 I have shown an alternate type of construction wherein aslightly different shaped tank is used with the usual filter cap l2, airpump {[3, and legs 50, similar to those shown in connection with Figures1 and 3. However, here I have shown a vertical type valve, preferablywith a cleaner wire located on the end of the valve stem and projectingthrough the orifice. The Wick 2| extends through the vertical tube 8|,through the elbow, and through the horizontal ex-tension 82a of thevalve housing 82. A cup 83 is preferably secured to the gland nut On thestuffing 'box and the valve handle 9% which is located directly abovethe fuel tank. This cup 83' catches any fuel which-mayfi'drip from the"starting tube. 39 during thestarting operation, and keeps the fuel'olfof the valve handle and the fuel valve. It alsoprote'cts the valvehandle 99 from radiated'h'eat. I i

Figure 5- shows an alternate construction in which 'acylindrical tank isprovided with an air-pump l3 atone end and a filter cap at the otherend, and with afue'l valve housing 92 secured to the side of the tankand fed by a wick 2|; The burner cup 35 is preferably provided with astarting tube 39 anda valve handle 93 which is above the level of thesupporting surface. Tubes 94 and 95 are suitably attached to either endof thefuel tank,'though these could be replaced: by clips formed" fromor attached to the end of the fuel tank rather than tubes. A shortbracket rod 96 extend upwardly through said tube 94, forming a loop atthe top, through which is pivoted rod 97, then out horizontally withadepression to receive rod 98, down vertically and back horizontally toa loop around the lower end of the vertical portion of the rod 95. Therod 98 and the correspondin rod or brace wire 99 complete the supportingstructure, the other end of rod 93 being connected to the rod 91, whichhas its free end inserted in the upper end of tube 95, and the other endof brace wire 8 9 being inserted in the lower end of tube 95 to form arigid structure suitable for holding heavy cooking pots. The lower'runof the rod 96 carries a foot 96', which supports the stove on snow orsoft ground. A guard I08, preferably secured to the jam nut 92a on thevalve housing, protects the tank against excessive heat transmission,particularly by radiation andpreferably has a depression IEH formedtherein to catch fuel which may drip during the starting operation.

Brackets I03 are attached to the bottom of the 'fuel tank- 90 to'formsupports therefor and to prevent the heatfrom the fuel tank from meltingthe snow. Also, supports I93 together with the tank form a support forstarting,as shown in Figure 9, which the fuel valve 92 is substantiallyvertical, which allows the wick 2| to pass through the air chamber topick up air during the starting operation to give the necessaryatomization for instant starting in cold weather. 1

Figure. 6 shows the same stove in its folded position.

In Figures "7v and'8 I have shown an alternate construction in which asubstantially round fuel =tank'l20 is provided with air pump [21, afilter plug 122; burner cup 35; a fuel valve control 6m, -.astartingtube '39, and a fuel valve body and valve construction 60 similar tothat shown in Figure 2. A wire pot-holder I is suitably pivoted orsecured to the tank at I26 and I2! so that it can assume a positionabout the perimeter of the tank when stored, or vertically whencarrying, or as shown when cooking, and may be suitably supported byrods I30 and l3l which may either go to the supporting surface or backto the rim of the fuel tank. T0 collapse the potholder, the rods I30 andBI are disengaged from the tank and the ring-forming member is swungaround its connection to over-lie the tank. A guard plate I33 ispreferably inserted between the burner cup 35 and the fuel tank toprotect the same from getting too hot. A wick 2| feeds fuel to thisvalve housing 60 and the stove is preferably started by placing it withthe valve up so that the wick passes through the air-pressure chamber topick up air for starting and then when the stove is set down in theoperating position, the valve takes fuel only and no air after thegenerator is up to temperature.

While I have discussed this invention primarily in connection with afolding camp or troop stove, I wish it to be understood that theconstruction of a valve fed by a wick passing through the pressure airchamber above the fuel to pick up air and fuel during the startingoperation, as well as the starting tube for picking up the fuel-airspray from the nozzle and piping it around to impinge on the generatorfor quick starting, as well as the valve construction, cleaning wireconstruction, and the other details disclosed herein are equallyapplicable to gasoline or fuel-oil lamps of the so-called Coleman type,as well as gasolin or fuel-oil blowtorches and any other device whereinstantaneous starting on a fuel-oil flame is desirable.

I also wish to point out that I do not wish to limit myself to the exactdetails or modes of operation set forth in this application anddrawings, for it will be obvious that wide departure may be made in theway of details without departing from the spirit and scope of myinvention, which is as set forth in the following claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A burner operated on vaporized liquid fuel having a burner cup, agenerator, a fuel jet, and a starting element forming a hollow passagefrom a point adjacent the jet to a point adjacent the generator so aflame may be directed against said generator during the startingoperation, said starting element being adapted to be moved out ofengagement with the fuel from said fuel jet, and said generator beingdirectly below and forming a straight passage to said fuel jet.

2. A burneroperated on vaporized liquid fuel having a burner cup, agenerator, a fuel jet, and a starting tube forming a hollow passage froma point adjacent the jet to a point adjacent the generator so a flamemay be directed against said generator during the starting operation,said starting tube being adapted to be moved out of engagement with thefuel from said fuel jet, and said generator being directly below andforming a straight passage to said fuel jet.

3. A burner for vaporized fuel, having a generator, a wick for supplyingsaid generator with a liquid fuel, a tank for said fuel, and manualmeans for supplying said tank with air pressure above atmosphericpressure from outside said tank, said burner having a starting positionin which the wick passes through the air containing portion of the tankand a position for sustained operation with the wick completely immersedin said liquid fuel.

, 4. A burner for operating on liquid fuel having a wick, a fuel tank,manual means for adding outside air pressure above atmospheric pressureto said tank, and a valve between said wick and said burner, said tankhaving means adapted to support it in either of two positions, one forstarting where said wick will provide passage to said burner for liquidfuel under pressure mixed with air from inside said tank, and anoperating position where said wick provides said burner with liquid fuelbut no air from inside said tank.

5. A vapor fuel burner comprising a tank having a straight verticallypositioned generator mounted thereon, the upper end of said generatorterminating in a fuel jet and a surrounding burner cup, and a tubular,curved startin element swingingly mounted to project into the cup anddivert the fuel mixture from the jet to a point adjacent the generatorto heat the generator during starting.

6. A vapor fuel burner comprising a tank having mounted thereon agenerator, a fuel jet and a burner cup in vertical alignment andimmediately adjacent one another, forming a straight short passage forgenerating and burning the vapor, and a tubular, curved starting elementswingingly mounted on the generator and normally having its upper endadjacent the wall of the cup, said element being adapted to project intothe cup and divert the fuel mixture from the jet to a point adjacent thegenerator to heat the generator during starting.

BROOKS WALKER.

